"A man hath joy by the answer of his
mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is." Prov. 15:23
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
Prov. 25:11
I never cease to be amazed
at how easy it is lose one's sense of timing, especially when it comes to
speaking. We become so eager to "share" that we don't take into
consideration either the hearer or the setting. It may not be a matter of
casting "pearls before swine" (Matt. 7:6), or giving "strong
meat" to immature believers (Heb. 5:14); but still, approaching someone
with either words of comfort or rebuke can be unwanted in the first case and
ineffective in the second. It all depends on the person, time, and place.
The word picture painted
for us in Proverbs 25:11 speaks of the right place or setting. Notice the
beauty of the "apples of gold" are perfectly set off by the
"pictures of silver," perhaps speaking of the background or frame.
The golden apples would not be nearly as eye-catching on a dingy cloth or in a
rough, wooden frame.
The verse in Proverbs
fifteen tells us that like so many things in the Bible, there is a "due
season" to be acknowledged. To me, this speaks not only of the right hour,
day, or month, but even the right conversation. For instance, to use the occasion
of an individual's mistake to point out past failures only lessens the
possibility of change in the mind of the offender. Also, when we draw people
aside when they're busy, pleasantly occupied, or in the company of friends is
to guarantee half-hearted listening or response to our "words of
wisdom." And when someone is hurting physically, emotionally, or
spiritually, even the kindest, well-meaning words of comfort or advice can be
grating, especially if the individual is feeling overwhelmed or misunderstood.
They often say of someone
who knows how to speak cogently and fluently that he or she is
"well-spoken"; but as far as I'm concerned, the truly well-spoken
individual is the man or woman whose words are "fitly spoken," at the
prompting of the Holy Spirit. They fit perfectly at the right time and in the
right place. And by the way, I have said, "words," plural; but the
texts say "word," singular. That at least tells us that brevity
should be our watchword. Many a promising conversation has been drowned by too
many words.
The phrase, "tongue
of the learned," comes from Isaiah 50:4, where we're told it is given to
be used at the right time, for one reason only:
"The Lord hath given
me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season
to him that is weary..."
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